Device for connecting an exterior handle to a closing system

ABSTRACT

A device for opening wings of a motor vehicle, more particularly for opening vehicle doors and vehicle hinged lids. An exterior handle is connected to a closing system. The exterior handle is arranged in the exterior skin of the a motor vehicle and is subjected to the action of a spring force. The exterior handle includes a holding fixture which can be brought into contact in an interactive manner with a connecting element which can be inserted from the exterior. In addition, the one end of the connecting element which is assigned to the closing system can be interactively connected to an actuating element which unlatches the one blocking element of the closing system. The other end of the connecting element is displaceably mounted on an insertion part which can be inserted from the exterior skin and which can be fixed with regard to the exterior skin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of PCT International Application NumberPCT/DE99/01696 filed on Jun. 4, 1999 and German patent Application No.19826778.9, filed on Jun. 11, 1998.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for opening wings of a motor vehicle,more particularly for opening vehicle doors and vehicle hinged lids.

BACKGROUND

From DE 44 05 383 A1 an exterior handle assembly for a motor vehicledoor is known having a bearing yoke which can be prefitted on the insideof the door exterior panel and in which are installed a draw barseparated from the door handle and acting on a lock release lever, aswell as a holding plate for a closing cylinder. The door handle, whichis loaded with spring force, and the closing cylinder are able to bemounted from outside by means of a detent device when the door isclosed. For assembly, three openings are provided, namely a bearingopening for mounting the door handle, an operating opening forconnecting the door handle to the draw bar, as well as a closing openingfor the closing cylinder.

The known exterior handle assembly has a number of complicatedindividual parts so that the cost of manufacturing and assembling theknown exterior door assembly is really quite high. Furthermore there isthe drawback that the known assembly takes up a lot of room in the spacebetween the exterior panel of the door and the interior panel.Furthermore the assembly has a relatively large number of openings inthe exterior panel of the door which have to be sealed at high cost inorder to prevent moisture from penetrating into the space between theinterior and exterior panels of the door.

Furthermore, in order to connect the exterior handle assembly to thelocking system (door lock), there are always at least three assemblysteps which are required. First the draw bar which acts on the lockrelease lever has to be pre-assembled. Then in individual assemblysteps, the door handle is connected to the draw bar, and the closingcylinder is connected to the locking system.

Thus there is a need for a device for opening wings of a motor vehiclewhich is simple and cost-effective to manufacture and which can befitted at low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention has the advantage that an exteriorhandle of a wing, e.g. a door, and a connecting element which can beinserted from the exterior skin of a motor vehicle can be brought intointeraction with each other so that the exterior handle and theconnecting element are mutually entrained. By way of example, when theexterior handle is operated to open a vehicle door, the exterior handleentrains the connecting element. During the reverse procedure, theconnecting element then entrains the exterior handle. The connectingelement thereby serves as a connection between the exterior handle and aclosing system of the door.

The device according to the invention furthermore has a small number ofindividual parts which can be manufactured without complication and atlow cost. Furthermore, the small number of parts and their simple methodof construction enables a low-cost assembly. More particularly, it ispossible by means of an individual assembly step to connect the exteriorhandle to the closing system fixed inside a bodywork chamber. The term“closing system” is meant here as a lock with its individual components.

The space required by the device is small so that it can be installedwithout problem, in particular, in doors having a small structuralspace. Additionally, there is the special advantage that the device forconnecting the exterior handle to the closing system enables fitting tobe carried out from the outside of the door. In this way, assembly isparticularly easy and simple. It is also ensured that a door which isalready painted no longer becomes scratched during the assembly.

According to the invention, the connecting element is displaceablymounted on an insert part which can be inserted from the exterior skinof the vehicle door, and can be fixed relative to the exterior skin.This insert part preferably has a closing cylinder for manuallyactuating the closing system. As an alternative or in addition theinsert part has an infrared receiver of an infrared control forautomatically actuating the closing system.

In a further development of the invention the insert part has anillumination unit. This makes it easier to actuate the closing systemmanually by means of the closing cylinder in darkness.

A rotatable paddle of the closing cylinder mounted in the insert part ispreferably in engagement with a follower of the closing system. Byoperating the closing cylinder, the paddle is moved so that a blockingelement of the closing system is unlatched or locked.

A compression spring is preferably supported between the insert part andthe connecting element for spring-tensioning the exterior handle. Thiscompression spring serves to reset the exterior handle and connectingelement. It is thus not necessary to provide a separate individualreturn spring for each of the exterior handle and connecting element.Furthermore, the compression spring restricts at the same time thesetting path of the exterior handle. As an alternative, or in additionto the compression spring described, it is proposed to tension theexterior handle through a spring with a handle shell of the vehicledoor.

The advantage of these spring arrangements is that by deliberatelysaving space the entire assembly becomes more compact and themanufacturing costs are reduced through the lower number of componentparts.

In a further development of the invention, the insert part can be fixedrelative to the exterior skin through an opening in the interior skin.By way of example, fixing is carried out by a positive lockingconnection between the insert part and handle shell.

The connection between the blocking element and the connecting elementis preferably produced by snap-fitting or detent elements. By way ofexample, a detent element is provided on the blocking element andengages in a detent opening of the connecting element. As analternative, or in addition to this it is proposed that the connectionbetween the blocking element and connecting element is undertaken by aseparate part which can be actuated through the interior skin of thevehicle door, for example, an actuating element which acts on theblocking element. For this, the interior skin has an assembly anddismantling opening for producing and disengaging the connection betweenthe connecting element and closing cylinder.

In a further development of the invention, the blocking element isdesigned as a locking pawl which interacts with a rotary spring bolt ofthe door lock provided as the closing system. The locking pawl preventsthe movement of the rotary spring bolt when the vehicle door is closed.By actuating the exterior handle the locking pawl is moved so that itreleases the rotary spring bolt and the vehicle door can be openedthrough rotation of the rotary spring bolt with further actuation of theexterior handle.

The idea on which the invention is based will now be explained infurther detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a motor vehicle body with avehicle door,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic partial sectional view of an exterior handle ofthe vehicle door according to FIG. 1 connected to a door lock;

FIGS. 2a and 2 b are views according to FIG. 2 with fastening devicesfor an insert part;

FIG. 2c is a diagrammatic partial sectional view of the exterior handleconnected to the door lock and an infrared receiver mounted in theinsert part;

FIG. 2d is a diagrammatic partial sectional view of the exterior handleconnected to the door lock and tensioned with a handle shell;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insert part with a closing cylinderand connecting element; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an insertpart with the closing cylinder and connecting element according to FIG.3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an opened vehicle door 1 on which a window pane 2 ismounted. The vehicle door 1 has an exterior handle assembly 3 withexterior handle 31, an insert part 32 as well as a closing cylinder 32′.The closing cylinder 32′ is thereby mounted in the insert part 32. Theinsert part 32 can also include an illumination unit 32 c. Both theinsert part 32 and exterior handle 31 are able to be mounted from theoutside of the door. closed, the rotary spring bolt engages round aclosing element 7 mounted on the B-pillar of the vehicle body.

FIG. 2 shows the exterior handle 31 mounted on the door exterior panel 8of the vehicle door 1 and connected to the door lock 5. This is part (fthe exterior handle arrangement 3 which is provided for operating theaforementioned locking pawl, rotary spring bolt 6 and locking of thedoor lock 5 and is fitted into the end of the vehicle door 1 directedtowards the B-pillar. The locking pawl and rotary spring bolt 6 are notshown in FIG. 2.

The door exterior panel 8 of the vehicle door 1 is assigned a doorinterior panel 9 which are both provided as supports for variousassemblies and modules, such as for example, an electric window lifter.On the door exterior panel 8 is a handle shell 33 into which theexterior handle 31 is inserted and supported to swivel about a bearing34. Thus the exterior handle 31 can be swivelled up out of the startingposition shown by lifting its operating end which is opposite thebearing 34.

A holding fixture 31′ formed in one piece on the exterior handle 31 andholding a sliding sleeve 40 projects into an assembly opening of thehandle shell 33. The sliding sleeve 40 lies on the holding fixture 31′of the exterior handle 31 both during actuation and non-actuation of theexterior handle 31. In an alternative embodiment (not shown here) it isproposed to only bring the sliding sleeve 40 into connection with theexterior handle 31 when the said exterior handle 31 is actuated.

The sliding sleeve 40 is mounted displaceable on the closing cylinder32′ which is mounted in the insert part 32. As an alternative or inaddition to this, it is proposed to mount the sliding sleeve 40displaceable on the insert part 32 itself, as will be explained infurther detail below.

A compression spring 41 is mounted between the end of the sliding sleeve40 resting on the exterior handle 31, or 31′, and the insert part 32,and completely encloses the closing cylinder 32′. This compressionspring 41 is provided as a return spring of the external handle 31 or31′, and the sliding sleeve 40, which will be described in furtherdetail below.

The insert part 32 is mounted and fixed in the door exterior panel 8 sothat it is secured against unauthorized removal. This security action isprovided by a detent connection (not shown) of the insert part 32 withthe door exterior panel 8. In order to prevent moisture from penetratinginto the interspace between the door exterior panel 8 and door interiorpanel 9, a seal (likewise not shown here) is mounted between the doorexterior panel 8 and insert part 32. This is of particular advantage forthe proper functioning of the electric and/or electronic elementsmounted in the vehicle door 1, such as for example, sensors of a centrallocking system. In addition, further seals (not shown in further detail)are provided between the exterior handle 31 and door exterior panel 8and the handle shell 33.

The closing cylinder 32′ has a paddle 35 which is in active connectionwith a lock follower 36 of the door lock 5 mounted on the door interiorpanel 9. By operating the closing cylinder 32′, the paddle 35 is movedso that the locking pawl or rotary spring bolt 6 of the door lock 5 isunlatched or locked.

The door lock 5 is connected to the sliding sleeve 40 through anoperating lever 37 which is provided for actuating the locking pawl androtary spring bolt 6. To this end, the operating lever 37 has a detentelement 39 which can lock in an opening 39′ of the sliding sleeve 40.The connection between the door lock 5 and operating lever 37 isproduced through a screw connection 38. As an alternative to thishowever any other type of connection is also possible.

The exterior handle arrangement 3 described here, with its connectionbetween the exterior handle 31 and door lock 5, has many advantages. Itrequires only a small number of individual parts and is thereforecost-effective to manufacture. Furthermore, the assembly costs are veryslight. This is due, on the one hand, to the small number of individualparts required and, on the other, to the small number of assembly stepswhich are necessary in order to fit the exterior handle assembly 3 intothe vehicle door 1. The number of assembly steps is substantiallyrestricted to two steps. In a first step, the exterior handle 31 isinserted into the handle shell 33. Then the insert part 32 is insertedtogether with the closing cylinder 32′ and sliding sleeve 40 into theaforementioned assembly opening and connected to the door lock 5. Thesliding sleeve 40 is thereby mounted on the exterior handle 31, 31′ andengaged in the door lock 5 by means of the detent connection 39, 39′.This single assembly movement thus ensures that both the insert part 32is connected with the closing cylinder 32′ and also the exterior handle31 or 31′ is connected with the door lock 5 through the sliding sleeve40. No additional assembly step is therefore required to connect theexterior handle 31 to the door lock 5.

A further advantage lies in the small amount of space required. This issmall so that the device according to the invention can be fittedparticularly well in vehicle doors having a small assembly space. Theseare, for example, vehicle doors of mini-vans and also vehicle doorswhere a number of other modules (window lifter, speaker etc) are fittedwhich likewise take up a certain amount of assembly space.

The opening of the vehicle door 1 by means of the exterior handleassembly 3 described above will now be explained briefly. In order toopen the vehicle door 1 first, the locking pawl or rotary spring bolt 6of the door lock 5 must be unlatched by actuating the closing cylinder32′. Then by actuating the exterior handle 31 the locking pawl is movedso that the rotary spring bolt 6 is released and is turned by pulling onthe exterior handle 31. The vehicle door 1 can then be opened. If theexterior handle 31 is now let go, then both the exterior handle 31 andalso the sliding sleeve 40 are pushed simultaneously through the singlecompression spring 41 into their original position. The arrangement of asecond return spring is therefore not necessary. This saves furtherspace so that the exterior handle assembly becomes further compact.

As mentioned above, the insert part 32 is connected and fixed to thedoor exterior panel 8 by means of a detent connection according to FIG.2. An alternative fixing is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2 b.

FIG. 2a shows the fixing of the insert part 32 by means of a screwconnection 50 on the handle shell 33. A further possible screwconnection 51 of the insert part 32 with the handle shell 33 is shown inFIG. 2b. Openings 60 and 61 are provided in the door interior panel 9for the purpose of assembling and dismantling these screw connections 50and 51. These are readily accessible when the vehicle door 1 is openedso that the screw connection 50 and 51 can be easily assembled anddismantled without problem.

As shown in FIG. 2a, a further opening 60′ is provided for releasing thedetent connection between the operating lever 37 and sliding sleeve 40,which is likewise readily accessible when the vehicle door 1 is opened.

FIG. 2c shows the exterior handle 31, which is connected to the doorlock 5, and whose associated insert part 32 has no closing cylinder butan infrared receiver 32 b (shown in FIG. 1) of an automatic controlsystem of the door lock 5. The infrared receiver 32 b serves to receivea control signal with which the locking pawl or rotary spring bolt 6 ofthe door lock 5 is unlatched and locked by means of servo motors (notshown). The embodiment illustrated here is particularly suitable forpassenger doors and boot lids. For the vehicle door it is advantageousto provide the insert part 32 with both the infrared receiver 32 b ofthe automatic control system of the door lock 5 and a closing cylinder31′ for emergency opening of the vehicle door.

A further possible arrangement of the spring system of the exteriorhandle 31 is shown in FIG. 2d. The exterior handle 31 is therebytensioned with the handle shell 33 by means of a yoke spring 70 so thatit is pushed after its actuation together with the sliding sleeve 40back again into the original position prior to actuation.

FIG. 3 shows on an enlarged scale a further embodiment of an insert part32 with a closing cylinder 32′ and a U-shaped connecting element 45.

A closing cylinder 32′ is mounted centrally in the insert part 32 andits paddle 35 projects through an opening 45 b of the connecting element45. Furthermore the insert part 32 has on either side guides 32 a forguiding the guide elements 45 a of the connecting element 45.

The door lock 5 (not shown here) is connected to the connection element45 through a detent connection. The connecting element 45 has an opening45 c into which a detent element (not shown here) of the door lock 5engages for connecting the door lock 5 directly to the connectingelement 45.

The exterior handle 31 (not shown) lies in this embodiment on the stopfaces 80 of the guide elements 45 a. If the exterior handle 31 isactuated, then the connecting element 45 is moved along the guides 32 atowards the head of the insert part 32. A compression spring 41, whosearrangement is shown in FIG. 4, is thereby compressed so that afteractuation of the exterior handle 31 (letting go the exterior handle) theexterior handle 31 and connecting element 45 are moved back into theiroriginal position prior to the actuation of the exterior handle.

The connecting element 45, shown in FIG. 4 has, unlike the connectingelement shown in FIG. 3, an indirect connection with the door lock 5.For this, a detent element 45 c is mounted on the connecting element 45and engages in an opening 37′ of the operating lever 37. This operatinglever 37 is, as already explained above, connected to the door lock 5and serves to actuate the locking pawl or rotary spring bolt 6 of thedoor lock 5.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for opening wings of a motor vehicle,comprising: an exterior handle mounted on an exterior skin of the motorvehicle and loaded with spring force, and a closing system fixed insidea bodywork space of the motor vehicle, wherein the exterior handle has aholding fixture which can be brought into contact in an interactivemanner with a connecting element which can be inserted from the exteriorskin, wherein one end of the connecting element is displaceably mountedon an insert part which can be inserted from the exterior skin and canbe fixed relative to the exterior skin, wherein the other end of theconnecting element can be connected in active engagement with anactuating element which unlatches a blocking element of the closingsystem, wherein the insert part has a closing cylinder, and wherein theclosing cylinder engages with a follower of the closing system through arotatable paddle.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the insert part hasan infrared receiver.
 3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the insertpart has illumination means.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein acompressing spring is supported between the insert part and theconnecting element to resiliently support and restrict the setting pathof the exterior handle.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the exteriorhandle for resilient support is tensioned with a handle shell through aspring.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the insert part can be fixedrelative to the exterior skin through at least one opening in aninterior skin of the wing.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the insertpart is connected for positive locking engagement with a handle shell.8. A device for opening wings of a motor vehicle, comprising: anexterior handle mounted on an exterior skin of the motor vehicle andloaded with spring force, and a closing system fixed inside a bodyworkspace of the motor vehicle. wherein the exterior handle has a holdingfixture which can be brought into contact in an interactive manner witha connecting element which can be inserted from the exterior skin,wherein one end of the connecting element is displaceably mounted on aninsert part which can be inserted from the exterior skin and can befixed relative to the exterior skin, wherein the other end of theconnecting element can be connected in active engagement with anactuating element which unlatches a blocking element of the closingsystem, and wherein the connection between the blocking element and theconnecting element is through at least one of snap and detent elements.9. A device for opening wings of a motor vehicle, comprising: anexterior handle mounted on an exterior skin of the motor vehicle andloaded with spring force, and a closing system fixed inside a bodyworkspace of the motor vehicle, wherein the exterior handle has a holdingfixture which can be brought into contact in an interactive manner witha connecting element which can be inserted from the exterior skin,wherein one end of the connecting element is displaceably mounted on aninsert part which can be inserted from the exterior skin and can befixed relative to the exterior skin, wherein the other end of theconnecting element can be connected in active engagement with anactuating element which unlatches a blocking element of the closingsystem, wherein the connection between the blocking element and theconnecting element is through a separate connecting part which can beactuated through an interior skin of the wing.
 10. The device of claim9, wherein the interior skin has at least one assembly/dismantlingopening for producing and releasing the connection between theconnecting element and the closing system.
 11. The device of claim 1,wherein a locking pawl is the blocking element.